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May 2011
In This Issue
- 2010 Census Data Shows Huge Growth in Senior Citizen Population
- Seattle Time Editorial and Op-Ed Article Slams State Legislature on Initiative I-1029
- Profile: Deborah Deraitus, FRHC Staffing Supervisor
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"Family Resource Home Care provides peace of mind, relief, respite, respect, dignity, and joy in friendship to our senior clients, their families, and their caregivers." |
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Sheila McKannay
VP - Client Care |
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2010 Census Data Shows Huge Growth in Senior Citizen Population
The first of the baby boomers (those born between 1946 – 1964) started turning 65 in 2011. With 76 million boomers in the U.S. representing about 29 percent of the population, the impact everywhere, including Washington State, will be huge. The May 18 Seattle Times article, Boomers Deliver Rising Tide of Seniors reports that, “2010 census data released Wednesday show not just that the ranks of Washington's elder citizens are swelling, but that — thanks to boomers — the state can expect a senior-citizen tsunami for years to come.”
Consider the following staggering statistics:
• The number of Washington residents 65 and older grew 25 percent in the last decade, compared with a 14 percent increase in the state's overall population.
• The growth rate was higher among older seniors, with the number of residents 85 and older increasing nearly 40 percent.
• Steeper still was the growth of senior-citizens-to-be, reflected by a whopping 81 percent increase among those 60 to 64.
The impact of these numbers on those working with the senior population, including home care agencies such as Family Resource Home Care, cannot be overstated. According to Dan Murphy, strategic-planning director for the state's Aging and Disability Services Administration, “ Aging in place" has become a catch phrase in social services. We try to support seniors staying in their homes — or at least in their communities — for as long as possible, so people keep doing as much as they can for as long as they can, and their families and friends help provide some support."
Family Resource Home Care recognized years ago that a growing number of seniors will require assistance if they are to remain living in their homes. We have spent years developing our best and are poised, with staff, caregivers and systems in place to help those who turn to us.
36.3 million people in the U.S. were age 65 and older in 2004, projected to grow to 86.7 million by 2050. Washington State will be following this trend and FRHC will be there to help.
Seattle Times Editorial and Op-Ed Article Slams State Legislature on Initiative I-1029
When State Initiative I-1029 was passed by voters in 2008, home-care agencies protested fast and loud. Even two years ago, it was clear that this Initiative, which sets new training standards and requires testing and certification for long-term care workers would strain the state budget and result in the loss of jobs for caregivers who work for private-pay home care agencies serving seniors and other vulnerable citizens who don't qualify for state Medicaid.
When the governor's budget and the House and Senate spending plans all proposed delaying I-1029 for two years, it seemed our legislators had realized an initiative with such a huge price-tag and impacting our most vulnerable citizens, needed much more consideration. But last month, I-1029 suddenly reappeared in the revised House and Senate budgets.
In a May 14th editorial Health Care Initiative Should be Suspended, the Seattle Times urged suspension of I-1029. Among the many reasons cited were the unavailability of training, the cost to caregivers, and the measure’s inflexibility. The Times also urged repeal of the measure next year to be replaced by a new training law “vetted through public testimony and written by legislators.”
In a May 17 Op-Ed article State Can’t Afford Expense, Consequences of I-1029’s Caregiver-Training Program, also published on also in the Seattle Times, David Lawrence, President/CEO of Family Resource Home Care and president of the Washington Private Duty Association, and Doris Visaya, professional affairs director of the Home Care Association of Washington, wrote:
Which should be the higher spending priority for Washington State in this difficult economic climate? Dental care, eyeglasses and hearing aids for low-income seniors? Teachers' salaries? Or a brand-new program costing millions of dollars for additional long-term care worker training? Our state Legislature is about to buy the last item, at a huge cost, during a severe budget crisis, and in a way that will actually decrease the number of workers caring for our most vulnerable state residents.
Every home care agency including Family Resource Home Care supports appropriate training standards. We have fought in the legislature for higher standards and we will continue to work for safe and affordable home care for all families.
Profile: Deborah Deraitus, FRHC Staffing Supervisor
 Deborah sees similarities between her previous career as a mortgage broker and her job with Family Resource. “Both are about problem solving,” she said. “When you do a mortgage, it’s like putting a puzzle together. You have buyers with a certain amount of money to spend, and they want to borrow a certain amount. It was my job as the broker to put it all together and make it work.
As a staffing supervisor I work with both caregivers and families,” continues Deborah. “The caregivers have their needs and personalities, and I need to match them with clients (and families) who have their own issues. I need to make the puzzle pieces of client, family and caregiver fit together successfully.”
Deborah’s priority is to get to really know the caregivers she supervises so that she is able to make a good match between caregiver and client. “I’m on the phone most of the day,” says Deborah. “I take the time to listen to my caregivers. I learn about their families and their concerns and problems. I see it as my responsibility to make their job easier and better.”
We’re like an engine,” Deborah continued, describing what it is like to work for FRHC. We have 1,030 shifts each week that we need to fill with caregivers. And that does not even count the additional staffing we do with nurse delegation, RN’s and CNA’s.”
Deborah is grateful for FRHC’s flexibility and family friendly policies. “I have so much support from the rest of the staff,” she says. “Sometimes I might need to leave early to pick up a sick kid. Another staff member never misses her kid’s soccer games. We just all pick up the slack so that we can each do what we need to do.”
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© 2011 Family Resource Home Care, all rights reserved.
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